Chapter Seven
Popular
Angel

"Pop, pop. Pop, pop.

I hate to say it but they play this damn song in every club
But it's me so I show love
But it's me so show me love.

When I walk into the room people stop and stare
It's like nobody else is there.
You know it's me not you
Who said anything about you?

Boys and girls pretend to know me they try so hard
But I get what I want my name is my credit card
Don't try to hate me because I am so popular.

Pop. Pop. Popular."

This was it; this was the day that he would finally return to school. He could do it… maybe. Those stone steps leading up to the school seemed much more daunting today than normal. Why hadn't he used the mirror his father gave him again? Right… he didn't have it anymore. Pretty certain he broke it last night before Liz and Patty had come home. He'd been smart enough to clean it up this time though.

The therapy sessions had been helping him when he actually went to them… About two weeks ago he had given up on going; instead he had just lounged around at home and made it look like he was going to them. No one had a clue, especially since he had called the therapist and said that he no longer felt suicidal and thus removed himself from the program. Though when he did that he had been feeling much better, but very quickly he'd found himself spiraling back down into the madness that was utter heartbreak.

At least it sounded poetic that way.

With a sigh he began to trudge up the stairs, putting his hands in his pockets as the doors loomed closer overhead. The remainder of the trip up to his class room was much of a blur that he didn't care to remember. Since classes had already started it was easier for him to pass by unnoticed by the remainder of the students that lounged around the halls. Soon enough the single door that led to his class loomed ahead and he reached out to open it, unable to hear the click of the knob from the chattering of the students and booming of the teacher telling them to be quiet. But he felt the unnatural hush that fell over them all as he stepped inside.

He lifted his eyes and looked for his group of friends, his gaze falling on the empty seat that was his. He felt his heart thump briefly in pain before it settled and went numb like the rest of him usually was. In the next instant he was pounced on, Patti clinging to his arm and cackling happily because he was here. The faintest of smiles twitched the corners of his lips; it really was difficult to stay numb when Patti was involved. Yet that brief touch of happiness was quickly squashed by the realization that he still wasn't here. Not back from his mission yet or perhaps still avoiding Kidd? Uncertain of the answer, he trudged up the stairs with Patti clinging to him in a vice grip and took his seat. He didn't know how well he would be able to pay attention, but at least he could do his best. This was for the better after all, they would stop worrying about him so much as long as he went through the motions.

He couldn't remember the lesson that Stein was explaining to them, more stuff about dissecting more than likely. Always dissecting, that wasn't even the point of this class. Mayhap they would turn to more interesting things after he got back…

Quickly he shot those thoughts down; he didn't need to think about him. He could do just fine on his own. Who needed… Soul.

He needed Soul.

Placing a hand over his suddenly tight chest, the young death god strove to control the urge to run from the room. Liz's penetrating look was enough to tell him that she knew something was off, but he didn't want to alert her even more than he already did. Shinigami knew the Thompson sisters deserved better than him…

Stop. He couldn't have his mind spiraling down yet. That was for when he was alone and only when he was alone. No one else could see how utterly destroyed he was on the inside; they had to see the same Kidd they all knew before. He forced himself to put his hand down when Black*Star's voice cut through his senses like a hot knife through butter.

"Yo, Kidd! It's good to see you back in the land of the living, now you can bow down to my Godlike powers like always! But this God suggests a party because you've returned to me!"

The thump of the spine of a hard bound book connecting with the blue haired idiot's head was quite clear and Kidd looked over to see Black*Star on the ground with a common fountain of blood spouting from his head. But it didn't seem like Maka was the culprit for the hit this time, because it was Liz that was holding the book in her head.

"Idiot, Kidd is a god and I doubt he's up for a party," the elder sister said, casting a worry filled glance to her meister. Yet to her surprise, the young man slowly shook his head and held up a hand to her.

"Actually, that sounds like fun," he said, perhaps an old spark of himself lighting in his eyes. After all, what better way to show them that he was alright than by going out with them?

Liz frowned again and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure, Kidd? You know what Black*Star's parties are like. Are you…"

"Stable enough? Since I've managed to sit through a droll day of classes without bolting I would think so," he said drily, looking at her from the corner of his eyes.

Liz found herself frowning but acquiesced to her meister, leaning back in her chair and pulling out a nail fail to work at her nails. The fact that Kidd still didn't react to the uneven-ness of them still had her worried, but she was going to trust him for now. She would be wary, but trustful, just as a weapon should be.

She looked up as everyone in the group began to rise and she did so as well, grabbing her younger sister's hand so that the girl wouldn't be tempted to make the chairs into a giant giraffe. She still wasn't certain how the weapon managed to defy physics like that, but she pulled it off somehow and Liz didn't want a repeat of that at the moment. She had enough on her plate without throwing her sister's antics on top again.

Surprisingly enough, Kidd and Black*Star were in the lead and she fell back into step with Maka and Tsubaki. Looking over at the blonde, the pistol gave a small smile. "Are you going to come tonight, Maka?" she asked.

The green-eyed meister shook her head lightly. "No, I have… homework…"

Tsubaki and Liz shared a knowing look having both caught the hesitation in Maka's voice. Whatever the girl was doing it certainly wasn't homework, and it really wasn't healthy for her. But they gave her smiles and understanding nods, accepting for the time being that she wouldn't be joining them. Sure enough when they were down the stairs of the school, Maka gave them all a wave before excusing herself to head in the direction of her apartment while the rest of them made their way to the club that Black*Star had chosen. And when they arrived Kidd was floored and wondering if he could really do this.

There in front of him was the very club where this entire mess had started. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and think rationally for the moment. There was nothing bad with this club, it just happened to be a bit of bad luck on his part that had resulted in him being drunk and all of the following events that occurred. His throat was tight as he swallowed past the sudden dose of pain and he curled his hands into fists, nail pressing in his palms and leaving shallow half-moon marks. The first step inside the building had him mentally swaying; it really hadn't changed since that night. Loud music, sweaty, dancing bodies, and the overbearing scent of alcohol were the three things that stood out the most to him. And the last item sounded like it could be his saving grace. Perhaps he would drink just enough to blur his mind, that sounded like a wonderful idea.

The crowd parted before him – or perhaps he just wove his way through it with an expertise he hadn't known he'd possessed – as he made his way to the bar. Even the bartender failed to notice his young age as he handed him a stiff drink. Apparently the young shinigami looked like he needed it more than he'd realized, but he was determined to play it to his advantage. Sitting at the bar was a calming experience and he watched the people that danced on the floor in their gyrating, asymmetric fashions. His nose wrinkled in distaste but he ignored them, glancing down at the glass that had hosted his third drink. It was empty again, which would never do, and so he flagged down the bartender once more. It didn't take very long for the drink to be refilled and he sighed lightly, taking a sip before looking out over the crowd again. The majority of his friends were dancing and he smiled despite himself because they could at least have fun without him.

It was at that moment he felt the presence next to him and he turned to look at a man with breath taking blue hair that was perfect in its symmetry. He literally felt his breath escape him in a surprised gasp, eyes roving over the body of this symmetrical god in unhindered appreciation. Dimly he was aware of lips moving, speaking going on that he couldn't discern. Focusing back on the moment at hand, he gestured for the boy to speak in his ear in order to be heard.

"Here to forget something or getting courage for something?"

The voice in his ear was a rich baritone that practically had the young man in a puddle on his bar stool. "Ah… to forget," he responded, looking down at his glass with the condensation dripping off the side before looking up at the god again.

Said God's mouth was quirked into a mesmerizing smile and he held out a hand, taking Kidd's and kissing the back of it gently. "Then, perhaps I can be of some help. Kai Bayle at your service, monsieur."

Kidd's brain short circuited for a second as he registered the feeling of silky lips on the back of his hand and he struggled to regain his ability to speak. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bayle-"

"Kai, please."

"-Kai," Kidd corrected himself, amusement gently lighting up golden irises that had before been just as dead as before. "I'm Kidd. How could you be of help?"

The blue haired man with the fascinating tri-colored eyes of deep blue, forest green, and earth brown only smiled at Kidd before pulling him up and onto the dance floor. "That all depends on how you'll let me."

With that one sentence, Kidd found himself swept away in the typhoon that Kai had created around him and was twirling around the dance floor to the beat of the song. Indeed, perhaps this man could be of help in forgetting his past troubles.

Angel: So… uhm… yeah. I'm really sorry, if that counts for anything. . School, work, more school… life. Life happens right? Uh… yeah. This chapter took way too long to get out, and I just wanna say thanks to all the reviewers and the favorites and the follows. Ya'll inspired me to crank this chapter out, long over due as it is. Thank you so much everyone, and I hope this chapter lived up to your expectations. Treana should have the next chapter up shortly – for reals this time since she was kicking my ass over taking so long with this one xD See ya'll in the next update of Untouched~!